Catheter hole having a flow breaking feature

Abstract

A peripheral catheter having a catheter tip diffuser for reducing an exit velocity of an infusant within the catheter. Pluralities of diffusion side holes are provided on the tip portion of the catheter. Some examples further include pluralities of annularly arranged, staggered diffusion holes provided on the tip portion of an intravenous catheter to streamline infusant issued from the diffusion holes. An inner surface of each diffusion hole is further angled relative to the inner surface of the catheter lumen such that an infusant within the lumen exits the catheter though the diffusion holes at an angle less than 90°.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A peripheral catheter, comprising:
 a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a distal lumen, the catheter body further having a truncated length sufficient to access a peripheral vein of a patient; 
 at least one hole positioned on the distal end of the catheter body, the hole being formed through a wall thickness of the catheter body and in communication with the lumen, the at least one hole having an inner wall surface and an inner portion; and 
 an inward projection on the inner wall surface of the at least one hole and extending into the inner portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The peripheral catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hole includes at least two holes, the first hole having a first hole central axis defining a first vector through the first hole, the second hole having a second hole central axis defining a second vector through the second hole, the first vector converging with the second vector at a point external to the lumen of the catheter body. 
     
     
       3. The peripheral catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hole comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is generally round and the proximal end is tapered. 
     
     
       4. The peripheral catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hole is substantially tear-drop shape. 
     
     
       5. The peripheral catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hole has an elongated geometry. 
     
     
       6. A peripheral catheter, comprising:
 a catheter body of a predetermined wall thickness, the catheter body member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a distal lumen opening, the catheter body further having a truncated length sufficient to access a peripheral vein of a patient; and 
 a hole positioned on the distal end of the catheter body, the hole being formed through the wall thickness of the catheter body and in communication with the lumen, the hole having an inner portion and further comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is generally round and the proximal end is tapered. 
 
     
     
       7. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , further comprising an inward projection disposed on an inner wall surface of the hole and extending into the inner portion of the hole. 
     
     
       8. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the hole is an elongated hole. 
     
     
       9. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , wherein a surface area of an outer opening of the hole is less than a surface area of an inner opening of the hole. 
     
     
       10. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , wherein a surface area of the hole is less than a surface area of the distal lumen opening. 
     
     
       11. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , wherein an angle between a distal inner wall surface of the hole and a central axis of the catheter is less than an angle between a proximal inner wall surface of the hole and the central axis of the catheter. 
     
     
       12. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the hole is at least partially disposed on a tapered tip of the distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
       13. A peripheral catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the catheter body comprises a diameter that is less than or equal to a fourteen gauge catheter. 
     
     
       14. A peripheral catheter, comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a distal lumen, the catheter body further having a truncated length sufficient to access a peripheral vein of a patient; a plurality of holes positioned on the distal end of the catheter body, the plurality of holes being formed through a wall thickness of the catheter body and in communication with the lumen, the plurality of holes each having an inner wall surface and an inner portion, the plurality of holes each having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is generally round and the proximal end is tapered; and an inward projection on the inner wall surface of one or more of the plurality of holes and extending into the inner portion. 
     
     
       15. A peripheral catheter of  claim 14 , wherein plurality of holes are elongated holes. 
     
     
       16. A peripheral catheter of  claim 14 , wherein a surface area of an outer opening of each of the plurality of holes is less than a surface area of an inner opening of each of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
       17. A peripheral catheter of  claim 14 , wherein a surface area of each of the plurality of hole is less than a surface area of the distal lumen opening. 
     
     
       18. A peripheral catheter of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the plurality of holes is at least partially disposed on a tapered tip of the distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
       19. A peripheral catheter of  claim 1 , wherein a surface area of an outer opening of the at least one hole is less than a surface area of an inner opening of the at least one hole. 
     
     
       20. A peripheral catheter of  claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the at least one hole is less than a surface area of the distal lumen opening.